Cable pulling system and a method of pulling a cable using the system

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a cable pulling system being used in a cable laying construction. The cable pulling system of the disclosure can pull a cable from a cable drum loaded on a trailer to an underground duct without unloading the cable drum from the trailer. 
     The cable pulling system comprises a cable drum rolling device configured to rotate the cable drum, a cable guider configured to guide the cable from the cable drum to the conduit, and a caterpillar configured to pull the cable guided through the cable guider from the cable drum and to convey the cable to an underground duct.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No.10-2008-0021823, filed on Mar. 10, 2008, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the installation of cable, morespecifically, to a cable pulling system can pull a cable from a cabledrum loaded on a trailer into an underground duct according to theinstallation velocity without unloading the cable drum from a trailer inloaded state.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In case of installation a cable into the underground according to therelated art, the cable drum should be unloaded from a trailer. The cableis wound on a cable drum which is kind of a reel.

And then, the high voltage cable can be pulled from the cable drum.Therefore, loading the cable drum onto the trailer and unloading thecable drum from the trailer increase the time required and the necessarysum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a cable pulling systemthat substantially obviates problem due to limitations and disadvantagesof the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cable pulling systemcan pull a cable without unloading a cable drum from a trailer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable pullingsystem can reduce the installation time and the necessary sum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable pullingsystem can pull a cable according to the installation velocity.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cable pullingsystem can pull a cable according to the height of the cable pulled fromthe cable drum.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cable pullingsystem can pull a cable according to the angle of the cable pulled fromthe cable drum.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, acable pulling system comprises a cable drum rolling device which rotatesthe cable drum on the trailer, a cable guider which guides the cablefrom the cable drum to the conduit, and a caterpillar which resolve atraverse caused by the changing of the direction and the height of thecable being unrolled from the cable drum.

A cable pulling system of the present invention can adjust a gradient ofthe cable pulled into the conduit.

A cable pulling system of the present invention can adjust the directionand the height of the cable into a caterpillar.

Preferably, the cable pulling system of the present invention can pullthe cable to the conduit according to the installation velocity.

Preferably, the cable pulling system of the present invention can pullthe cable according to the width of the cable drum.

Preferably, the cable pulling system of the present invention can pullthe cable according to the various angles and the positions of the cablepulled from the cable drum.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a towed cable pulling system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of cable drum rolling device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a plane view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the caterpillar solution device according tothe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plane view of the operational state of the caterpillar ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 shows a towed cable pulling system of the present invention.

A cable drum (3) is loaded on a trailer (2) which is towed by a tow car(1). A caterpillar (10) is located on the upper front area of thetrailer (2). The caterpillar (10) can be controlled by a remotecontroller (5). The cable drum (3) is supported by a cable drum rollingdevice (20). The cable drum rolling device (20) is located beneath thecable drum (3). The cable drum rolling device (20) fixes the cable drum(3) in transportation state and rolls the cable drum (3) in installationstate. The tow car (1) carries the trailer (2) loading the cable drum(3) to working place. After arriving at the working place, the tow car(1) leaves the trailer (2) to working place. The trailer (2) is locatedat the duct structure which is the working place.

FIG. 2 is a front view of cable drum rolling device of the presentinvention. The cable drum rolling device (20) comprises stopper (21) androllers (24). The stopper (21) fixes the cable drum (3) when the cablepulling system in condition of not operating. The stopper (21) fixes thecable drum (3) at both sides in transportation state. The cable drum (3)can be moved when the stopper (21) releases the cable drum (3). Thepower of the motors (24) can roll the cable drum (3). A stopper (21) isinstalled at the one part of the roller body (25) with a spring cushionbracket (22) to fix the cable drum (8). Spring cushion holders (23) tosupport spring cushion, are installed at 4 spots of both sides of theroller body (25) to provide cushion to the roller body (25). The springsgive elasticity to the cable drum (3). The rollers (24) support and rollthe cable drum (3) with the power generated by at least one motor ininstallation state.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

The cable (4) winded on the cable drum (3) is pulled to the caterpillar(10) through the cable guider (30) when the motors (24) of the cabledrum rolling device (20) roll. The caterpillar (10) pulls the cable (4)guided through the cable guider (30) from the cable drum (3) and conveysthe cable (4) to an underground duct (5). A cable guider (30) guides thecable (4) unwound from the cable drum (3) rolled by the cable drumrolling device (20).

FIG. 4 is a plane view of the caterpillar according to the presentinvention. FIG. 5 is a front view of the caterpillar according to thepresent invention. FIG. 6 is a plane view of the operational state ofthe caterpillar of the present invention.

A caterpillar (10) is symmetrically installed on the upper frame (18) ofa height adjuster (40) and pulls the cable (17). A gear speed reductionbox (11) reduces the speed of the motor (12).

A first cable pulling roller (13) guiding the providing of the cable (4)is installed at the front area of the caterpillar (10). A second cablepulling roller (17) guiding the outputting of the cable (4) is installedat the rear area of the caterpillar (10).

The pulled cable from the cable drum (3) is guided toward to the firstcable pulling roller (13). The cable (4) is conveyed by the engagedchain (16).

The height of the caterpillar (10) is adjusted by a height adjuster(40). A moving guide (14) is installed at the upper area of the heightadjuster (40).

The caterpillar can freely move according to the angle and position ofthe unwound cable (4). Up and down movement and free movement isperformed by the guidance of the moving guide (14).

The height adjuster (40) adjusts the height of the moving guide (14)with the upward and downward movement.

The moving guider (14) is located beneath the caterpillar (10) andguides the horizontal movement of the caterpillar (10) according to thedirection of the unwound cable (4).

The height adjuster (40) is located beneath the moving guider (14) andadjusts the height of the caterpillar (10), wherein the height adjustermoves the caterpillar upward and downward according the height of theunwound cable.

The moving guider (14) is a kind of rail to guide the caterpillar (10),wherein the guide rail is curved like a border of a fan-shape and keepsthe caterpillar and the unwound cable in a straight line.

The upper frame (18) is installed slopingly and the slant angle of theupper frame (18) is in the range of 5°˜35°.

The caterpillar (10) is handled by a remote controller and pulls thecable by adjusting the speed according to the cable pulling speed. Thecable (4) being connected to the caterpillar (10) through the firstcable pulling roller (13), is pulled by the caterpillar (10).

The power generated by the motor (12) is reduced by the gear speedreduction box (11) and provides the caterpillar (10) with the cable (4).

When the cable (4) is pulled from the center area of the cable drum (3),the caterpillar (10) and the cable (4) keep the state of the straightline without any problem. If the cable (4) is pulled with the tiltedangle and direction toward the edge of the cable drum (3), thecaterpillar (10) moves with rotation through the free moving deviceaccording the direction of the cable (4).

The moving guide (14) keeps the state of the straight line between thecaterpillar (10) and the cable (4). The upper area of the guide rail ishigher than the other area and has rounding type slope to move freely.

When the moving guide (14) freely moves according to the providing angleand the providing direction.

When the cable (4) moves through the moving guide (14), if the cable (4)keeps the straight line with the caterpillar (10), the direction has nochange. However, when cable (4) is pulled through the cable drum (3),the providing height is changed. Therefore, the providing height couldbe changed according to the slant angle of the upper frame (18).

The cable (4) can be stably pulled to the caterpillar (10) by adjustingthe height of the moving guide (14) according the height of theproviding height. Simultaneously, the accurate height is pulled by thecontrol of the height adjuster (40).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A cable pulling system for pulling a cable from acable drum without unloading the cable drum from a trailer, comprising:a cable drum rolling device configured to fix the cable drum in atransportation state and to roll the cable drum in an installationstate, wherein the cable drum rolling device is located beneath thecable drum; a cable guide configured to guide the cable unwound from thecable drum rolled by the cable drum rolling device; and a caterpillarconfigured to pull the cable from the cable drum, through the cableguide and to convey the cable to an underground duct.
 11. The cablepulling system of the claim 10, wherein the cable drum rolling devicecomprises: at least one stopper configured to fix the cable drum at bothsides in the transportation state; and at least one roller configured tosupport the cable drum and to roll the cable drum with power generatedby at least one motor in the installation state; a pair of springsconfigured to give an elasticity to the cable drum.
 12. The cablepulling system of the claim 10, further comprising: a moving guidelocated beneath the caterpillar and configured to guide the horizontalmovement of the caterpillar according to a direction of the unwoundcable.
 13. The cable pulling system of the claim 12, further comprising:a height adjuster located beneath the moving guide and configured toadjust the height of the caterpillar, wherein the height adjuster movesthe caterpillar upward and downward according a height of the unwoundcable.
 14. The cable pulling system of the claim 11, wherein the movingguide comprises a guide rail configured to guide the caterpillar,wherein the guide rail is curved along an arc and keeps the caterpillarand the unwound cable in a straight line.
 15. A method of pulling acable during an installation of cabling, the method comprising: loadinga cable drum on a trailer towed by a tow car and fixing the cable drum;transporting the trailer near an underground duct and unfixing the cabledrum; rolling the cable drum without unloading the cable drum from thetrailer and unwinding the cable wound on the cable drum; and pullingunwound cable with a caterpillar to convey the unwound cable to theunderground duct.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:guiding the unwound cable to the caterpillar with a cable guide.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising: adjusting the height of thecaterpillar according the height of the cable guided by the cable guidetoward the caterpillar.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:adjusting the horizontal position of the caterpillar to keep a linebetween the unwound cable and the center of caterpillar straight.